SINGAPORE: Sixty-eight athletes who won medals during the SEA Games and Commonwealth Games were awarded up to S$860,000 for their achievements at an event on Wednesday (Sep 14), the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) said in a news release.
However, CNA understands that the prize money for Singapore swimmer Joseph Schooling’s performance at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi has been put on hold. SNOC declined to elaborate when asked by CNA.
Schooling, who won two golds and one bronze in Hanoi, was absent from the Major Games Award Programme (MAP) awards presentation and Team Singapore appreciation dinner on Wednesday.
Last month, the swimmer confessed to consuming cannabis overseas in May when he was on short-term disruption from full-time National Service (NS) to train and participate in the SEA Games.
Given his abuse of disruption privileges, MINDEF had said Schooling will no longer be eligible for leave or disruption to train or compete while in NS.
During the award presentation on Wednesday, the reward for Team Singapore medallists into S$495,000 for the SEA Games and S$365,000 for the Commonwealth Games.
A 424-member contingent represented Singapore in 33 sports during May’s SEA Games in Hanoi and had won 47 gold, 46 silver and 71 bronze medals.
There were also five Games records, 16 national records and 41 personal best milestones set during the Games, said SNOC.
The contingent, led by chef de mission S Sinnathurai, had 245 debutants who contributed 62 medals out of the 164 won by Team Singapore.
Swimmer Quah Jing Wen was recognised as the Most Valuable Player (female), clinching six gold and one bronze medals at the Games.
At the Birmingham Commonwealth Games held from late July to early August, the contingent of 66 athletes in nine sports were led by chef de mission Lim Heem Wei.
They returned with four gold, four silver and four bronze medals as well as eight national records and 16 personal best outings.
“Fifty athletes made their Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham, while Games veteran Feng Tianwei earned the most bemedaled table tennis athlete accolade with her achievements of 13 medals at four editions,” said SNOC.
Ms Feng also received the David Dixon award, which is presented to the most outstanding athlete at the Games.
The MAP rewards medallists of the SEA, Commonwealth, Asian and Olympic Games. Under the programme which is sponsored by the Tote Board, medallists receive cash based on the major Games event and medal won.